^Looking west from the intersection with County XU, July 2025.

Wisconsin Highway 71 runs northwesterly from Elroy to Melrose, tracing the border between central Wisconsin and southwestern Wisconsin. As travelers move northward along the main drag of Elroy, carrying Wisconsin Highways 80 and 82, a fork appears on the left, stemming toward the northwest. This northwesterly roadway is the first bit of Wisconsin Highway 71. Later on, Wisconsin Highway 131 comes from the north, and it joins Highway 71 westward into Wilton. Wisconsin Highway 131 continues southward in Wilton, leaving Highway 71 to continue northwestward through Norwalk. Next, Wisconsin Highway 71 arrives in Sparta. That's where Highway 71 turns westerly along Wisconsin Highway 16, and then it turns northward along Wisconsin Highway 27. Eight miles to the north, Wisconsin Highway 27 shakes off Highway 71, which continues toward the northwest. This stretch beyond Highway 27 is the last piece of Highway 71, which ends at Wisconsin Highway 54 in Melrose.

My photo of a route marker for Wisconsin Highway 71 comes from Wilton, showing its concurrency with Wisconsin Highway 131. Never mind the US highway shield; it is supposed to be a Wisconsin state highway marker for Highway 131. The signage depicted memorializes the union of Highway 71 and Highway 131, which head eastward concurrently from this point. This photo was taken in July 2025 on a trip around western Wisconsin and eastern Minnesota. 

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